Bottle or utility holder

ABSTRACT

A bottle or utility holder for the supported transportation of a plastic beverage bottle or utility device by the user or for the support from a stationary member that is easy to manufacture and use, low in cost and is comprised of a o-ring with a pull tab ( 1 ), a fastener ( 2 ) for attaching the o-ring with pull-tab to a support member e.g. a belt ( 3   a ), belt loop ( 3   b ), shoulder strap ( 3   d ) or belt clip ( 3   c ), the o-ring with a pull tab is attached to the support member with a fastener ( 2 ) through a hole ( 6 ) this assembly allows for the transport of a plastic bottle or utility device by the user, the plastic bottle is adapted by engaging the annular rim flange at the base of the screw cap by stretching the o-ring with the pull tab over around and down the screw cap where it is released and held in place under the rim at the base of the screw cap along side the neck of the bottle, a utility device e.g. flashlights, billy clubs or similar shaped articles maybe dropped into the o-ring and held in place in a similar manner as the before mentioned, an optional bushing installed between the support member and the o-ring with pull-tab will stand off the article being suspended allowing for better clamping of the o-ring around the article.

CROSS REFERENCE RELATED TO APPLICATION:

[0001] Inventor: Mario R. Villarreal JR.

[0002] Assignee: M.R.V. MFG.

[0003] U.S. Provisional Appl. No: 60/324,984

[0004] Field: Sep. 27, 2001

[0005] U.S. Disclosure Doc. No: 499712

[0006] Field: Sep. 11, 2001

REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. PATENT DOCUMENT

[0007] 5,954,247 November 1999 Savine et al. 224/148.4

[0008] 6,138,882 October 2000 Buettner 224/250

[0009] 6,283,346 September 2001 Thomas 224/148.6

[0010] Current U.S. Class: 248/311.2; 248/312; 248/312.1; 248/306;224/148.4; 224/576; 224/577

[0011] Field Search . . . 224/148.1; 224/148.4; 224/148.6; 224/250;224/257; 224/600; 248/102; 248/103; 248/104; 248/309; 248/310; 248/689;248/692; 248/312

STATEMENT REGARDING FED SPONSORED R&D

[0012] “Not applicable”

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGAPPENDIX

[0013] “Not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION THE FIELD OF INVENTION

[0014] Prior art reviewed for bottle or utility holders are numerous butnot like the present invention U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,247 issued to Cazinand co. on Sep. 21, 1999, shows a bottle holder that adapts a bottle ina similar way as the present invention but uses an open collar that ispulled with a cord similar to a noose to keep the bottle in place andhangs from the neck of the user. U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,335 issued toShahbaz on Feb. 1, 2000, shows a plastic one-piece belt loop holder witha oval slot where the bottle is engaged at the rim by dropping thebottle into the inside of the slot to hold the bottle in place. Otherknown bottle or utility holders are suspended from a strap that hangsfrom the shoulder or are molded from plastic that slips onto a belt ofthe person neither of which are suited for sport activities, are noteasy to manufacturer and may be designed for only one diameter of bottlesize. The design of my invention allows for freedom of movement withmovement of the user due to the pivot and swivel action allowed by thesingle point attachment of the o-ring with pull tab. A person may sitand have the bottle/utility device at their side in a horizontal orvertical position. Also the present bottle/utility holder is durable andeasy to repair when worn out. The o-ring diameter may be fitted for anysize bottle or utility device that may be practical for a person tocarry. Reviewed prior arts did not have this combination of features.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0015] It has become common place to see people carrying plasticbeverage bottles by hand at malls and sporting events and their numbersseem to grow each year. It is therefore the objective of the presentinvention to fulfill the needs for a compact, lightweight, low cost,durable yet repairable support that is integrated into a belt, through abelt loop, shoulder strap or clips onto a belt or seam of clothing.Furthermore the pivot and swivel action of this invention permitsmovement with movement of the user making it comfortable to wear andpermits the user to have the bottle or utility device sit in ahorizontal or vertical position allowing e.g. the user to enter and exitan automobile without having to remove the bottle or utility device asis common with prior arts that are rigid and would push into the usersside when going from a standing position to a seated one or a strap typeshoulder worn that would not be practical to wear and operate a vehicle.Furthermore the o-ring is designed to fit onto the specific bottleneckdiameter or utility device diameter to give the maximum elastic clampdown force without restricting the pull off or pull on of the o-ringwith pull-tab making the holder ideally suited for most sportsactivities. The supporting member may also be a stationary fixed supporte.g. a towel rack for suspending plastic containers such as toiletries,shampoos and body soaps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a bottle suspended by a clip on a support accordingto the invention ready to be clipped onto a belt or from a seam ofclothing for the transport of the bottle by the user.

[0017] Item 1 according to the invention an o-ring with a pull tab thatis used to pull the o-ring over around and down the screw cap where theo-ring is released under the rim of the annular flange at the base ofthe screw cap where the elastic force of the o-ring clamps down aroundthe bottleneck against the rim to hold the bottle in place.

[0018] Item 1 the o-ring with pull tab is used to release the bottle byreversing the for mention procedure or the user may simply pull off thebottle with a downward jerk of the bottle.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a utility device suspended by a clip on a supportaccording to the invention ready to be clipped onto a belt or from aseam of clothing for the transport of the utility device by the user.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a belt with an o-ring attached using a fastener to beused for the transport of plastic beverage containers or utility device.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows a belt loop with an o-ring attached using a fastenerto be used for the transport of plastic beverage containers or utilitydevices.

[0022]FIG. 5 shows a person using a clip on bottle holder and a beltwith an o-ring attached supporting utility device.

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a person with an o-ring attached to a shoulder strapsuspending a beverage container.

What I claim:
 1. A apparatus for supporting a bottle or utility devicefor its transport by a person or maybe attached to a stationary membercharacterized in that it comprises, in combination: a rubber o-ring withpull-tab; a fastener; a support member e.g. a belt, a belt loop,shoulder strap or belt clip with a hole that is used to attach theo-ring to the support member using the fastener.
 2. The invention ofclaim 1 where the o-ring with a pull-tab is used to pull the o-ring overaround and down the plastic beverage container screw cap to be releasedunder the annular rim at the base of the screw cap for its transport bythe user or for its suspension from a stationary support member.
 3. Theinvention of claim 1 where the o-ring with pull tab is used to support autility device that may be dropped into the o-ring for its transport bya person or for its suspension from a stationary support member.
 4. Theinvention of claim 1 where the supporting member attaches through asingle hole allowing for pivot and swivel of the supported article. 5.The invention of claim 1 where the support member for the o-ring holderfor transport has a surface area ideally suited to accept graphicartwork and print for promotional propaganda.